Chinese state-owned railway giant goes into business

A man enters the China Railway Corporation, a new state-owned enterprise, in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2013. The Chinese government has approved the establishment of the China Railway Corporation to perform the business functions of the defunct Ministry of Railways (MOR) as part of the country's cabinet restructuring plan. (Xinhua)

A man poses for a photo at the entrance of the China Railway Corporation, a new state-owned enterprise, in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2013. The Chinese government has approved the establishment of the China Railway Corporation to perform the business functions of the defunct Ministry of Railways (MOR) as part of the country's cabinet restructuring plan. (Xinhua)

People line up to take photos of the name board of China Railway Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2013. The newly-founded China Railway Corporation hung out its name board on Sunday. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian)

People pose with the name board of China Railway Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2013. The newly-founded China Railway Corporation hung out its name board on Sunday. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian)

The China Railway Corporation, which will take over the commercial functions of the former Ministry of Railways (MOR), went into business on Sunday.

The company announced its arrival via Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, two days after receiving approval from the State Council, China's cabinet.

The company will conduct business operations that were previously conducted by the now-defunct MOR, while the newly formed State Railways Administration will handle the MOR's administrative responsibilities.

With registered capital of 1.04 trillion yuan (165.73 billion U.S. dollars), the China Railway Corporation will take over all of the MOR's related assets, liabilities and personnel, as well as shoulder the responsibility of running trains for public welfare, according to a statement posted on the government website.

The wholly state-owned enterprise is administered by the central government and supervised by the Ministry of Transport, the statement said.

The move was made as part of the government's efforts to restructure its cabinet, as well as eliminate a previous situation in which the MOR played roles as both market participant and regulator in the railway sector.

The company is expected to address the MOR's high remaining debt and improve the country's massive railway network.

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